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Bucs' Law, Davis named first-team all-state

Their stats aren't as impressive as some other players across the state.

Matt DeYoung

Mar 16, 2012

They don’t need to be.

The impact they make on their team is undeniable, and coaches across the state have taken notice.

Grand Haven seniors Alex Law and Shar’Rae Davis were both named to the Class A girls basketball all-state first team today.

The announcement came as a thrill to coach Katie Kowalczyk-Fulmer, who guides her No. 1-ranked Bucs into the Class A state semifinals against Inkster today at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

“They’ve both had very good years,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “All-state is usually a lot about stats, but that’s hard to tell. We tried to play a tougher schedule this year, but we didn’t have many close games. I don’t keep kids in the game trying to get them all-state.”

Even playing limited minutes, Law and Davis put up nice numbers this winter.

Law, a four-year varsity starter who eclipsed 1,000 points in her career, had a strong all-around season. She led the Bucs in scoring at 11.6 points per game and also averaged around 3 rebounds and 2 assists. She shot over 40 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the free throw line.

“Alex had a really great year,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “She’s a four-year varsity player and our leading scorer those four years. She really has a passion for the sport. It’s nice to see her be rewarded. That’s some pretty tough company on the all-state team. Some of those kids average 20-plus points a game. We’ve earned the respect of voters going 25-1 this year and 26-1 last year.”

Kowalczyk-Fulmer also complimented Law on how she handled a lot of adversity over the past year. Her father, Dave, suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm during the Bucs’ season a year ago. Law then hurt her knee during the Bucs’ quarterfinal contest against East Lansing and gutted out her team’s semifinal loss to Detroit Renaissance on a bad leg.

“With what Alex has had to endure with her dad, with some injuries, she’s had to overcome some tough things, and she’s been a good leader for us,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said.

Davis, who transferred to Grand Haven from Allendale prior to her junior season, is a repeat pick on the first-team all-state team. She is the engine that makes the Buccaneers go from her point guard position.

Davis is very capable of lighting up the scoreboard, averaging over 10 points per game, but she typically defers to her teammates, taking more pride in assists than points, averaging five per contest.

Her value to the team was apparent in Tuesday’s quarterfinal game against East Lansing. Davis picked up three quick fouls and had to sit almost the entire first half, and the Buccaneers looked lost without her.

“Shar’Rae really has a gift, a talent out there,” Kowalczyk-Fulmer said. “She has the ability to make other people better on the floor, and she has a very high basketball IQ. Her ability to pass, she can shoot the three, she uses her body really well to get to the rim, and she’s shooting 83 percent from the line.

“Shar’Rae understands the game really well, and she really thrives on the big stage.